The Democratic Republic of Congo Football Federation (FECOFA) has rejected Nigeria’s protest over players’ eligibility and cautioned the Super Eagles against what it described as an attempt to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup “through the back door”.

The Congolese body was responding to a petition submitted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to FIFA, challenging the eligibility of several DR Congo players fielded in their recent play-off encounter in Morocco. The tie ended 4–3 on penalties in favour of DR Congo, a result that dashed Nigeria’s hopes of advancing to the FIFA intercontinental play-off.

Following the match, DR Congo were handed a bye into the final of the intercontinental play-off tournament, where they are due to face the winner of the semi-final between New Caledonia and Jamaica.

Reports have claimed that between six and nine Congolese players who switched international allegiance may not have fully complied with eligibility requirements under DR Congo’s domestic laws, which prohibit dual citizenship. Although FIFA reportedly cleared the players after confirming they held valid DR Congo passports, it is alleged that some failed to formally renounce their previous nationalities.

In a strongly worded post on the national team’s official X account on Wednesday, FECOFA dismissed the allegations and accused Nigeria of seeking to overturn the result by administrative means.

“If you can’t win on the pitch, don’t try to win from the back door. The World Cup must be played with dignity and confidence — not with legal tricks. Bring it on,” the post read.

The Congolese federation also shared images showing some of the players who changed nationality — including Aaron Wan-Bissaka — during a courtesy visit to President Félix Tshisekedi, alongside screenshots from FIFA’s “Change of Association” platform indicating when the nationality switches were finalised.

Nigeria’s officials confirmed earlier this week that a formal complaint had been lodged with FIFA. A member of the NFF executive board said that the petition centred on DR Congo’s constitutional ban on dual citizenship.

“Their constitution does not allow dual citizenship, and about six to nine players had that status during the play-off. That is the loophole we are exploring,” the official said, adding that the federation’s lawyers had submitted relevant documents to FIFA.

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, also confirmed the action, insisting that FIFA may have been misled during the clearance process.

“FIFA rules say once you have a passport of your country, you’re eligible, and that is why they were cleared,” Sanusi said. “But our concern is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. It is not FIFA’s responsibility to enforce Congo’s domestic regulations; FIFA acts based on what is submitted to it. What we are saying is that the process was fraudulent.”

The dispute has revived Nigeria’s faint hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, after the Super Eagles failed to reach the 2022 tournament in Qatar. DR Congo, for their part, have featured at the World Cup only once — at the 1974 finals in Germany, when the country competed as Zaire.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the commencement of an immediate investigation into corruption allegations against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.

The anti-graft agency confirmed that it has received a formal petition submitted by the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, accusing the NMDPRA boss of misconduct.

Spokesman of the commission, John Odey, said the petition would be thoroughly investigated.

The Atlantic Bell had earlier reported that Dangote, through his lawyer, petitioned the ICPC, demanding the arrest and prosecution of Ahmed.

In a terse statement, Odey said: “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) confirms that it received a formal petition today, Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer.

“The petition is against the CEO of the NMDPRA, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed. The ICPC wishes to state that the petition will be duly investigated.”

Dangote alleged that Ahmed was living beyond his means, claiming that he spent about $5 million to sponsor his children’s secondary education in Switzerland.

“I am not calling for his removal, but for a proper investigation,” Dangote said. “He should be required to account for his actions and demonstrate that he has not compromised his position to the detriment of Nigerians.”

He also called on the Code of Conduct Bureau and other relevant agencies to probe the matter, stressing that he was ready to provide evidence to support his claims if required.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the billionaire industrialist accused the leadership of the NMDPRA of frustrating local refining through the continued issuance of petroleum product import licences, despite Nigeria’s growing domestic refining capacity.

According to him, the regulator’s actions have entrenched the country’s dependence on fuel imports and discouraged investment in local refining.

Dangote claimed that import licences covering about 7.5 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) had reportedly been issued for the first quarter of 2026, even as local refiners struggle to operate profitably.

He warned that sustained importation of refined products was undermining local production and pushing modular refineries to the brink of collapse, while benefiting entrenched interests at the expense of national development.

On pricing, Dangote assured Nigerians of further reductions in fuel prices, announcing that PMS would sell for no more than ₦740 per litre from Tuesday, beginning in Lagos, following a cut in the refinery’s gantry price to ₦699 per litre. He said MRS filling stations would be the first to implement the new price.

He added that the refinery had reduced its minimum purchase requirement to accommodate more marketers and was prepared to deploy its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks nationwide to ensure affordability.

Dangote said Nigerians would ultimately benefit from domestic refining, even as fuel importers incur losses. He reiterated plans to list the Dangote Petroleum Refinery on the Nigerian Exchange to allow Nigerians to own shares in the facility.

“This refinery is for Nigerians first. I am not giving up,” he said.

The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for suspending its scheduled project inauguration as it joins other Nigerians in mourning the death of the state deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

In a statement signed and issued by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director, Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, Governor Diri gave the commendation during a condolence visit by a delegation from the NDDC, led by the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, at the Government House, Yenagoa.

The NDDC delegation included the Executive Director Projects, Dr Victor Antai; the Executive Director Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde; the Bayelsa State Representative on the NDDC Board, Senator Dimaro Denyanbofa, and other Directors of the Commission.

Governor Diri said his late deputy was dependable and that the achievements of his administration were due to their harmonious working relationship.

Senator Diri acknowledged the show of support from all parts of the country, noting that President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, had phoned him to extend their sympathies.

He noted that the condolence visits underscored the wide respect and admiration for the late Ewhrudjakpo and highlighted the deep sense of loss felt across the state and beyond.

The governor cautioned against the politicisation of Ewhrudjakpo’s death, urging the public to respect the mood of mourning in the state.

Diri appealed to the public to refrain from speculation and instead celebrate the life and service of the late deputy governor, whom he said served Bayelsa State with dedication and commitment.

Speaking earlier, the NDDC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, described the late Senator Ewhrudjakpo as a man whose dedication to duty and service to the state were outstanding.

He stated: “We are here to condole with you and the state over the passing of your deputy. We came as a team because we have built a strong partnership with the Bayelsa State Government. Over the years, we have built a good relationship with the governors of the Niger Delta States.”

“We were supposed to commission the NDDC 650-bed hostel complex at the Niger Delta University, Ammassoma, today, but because the state is in mourning, we decided to shelve all commissioning plans as a mark of respect for the departed Deputy Governor and the state.”

The NDDC boss affirmed that the Commission was committed to supporting the state government in this mourning period. “We all know the cordial relationship you shared with the late deputy governor. You shared a lot of political experiences as Senators and here in the Government of Bayelsa State,” he said.

Ogbuku noted that the late Deputy Governor was outstanding in the various places he worked, especially as Commissioner for Works in Bayelsa State, where he played a pivotal role in advancing infrastructure development, and in his distinguished service as Senator representing Bayelsa West in the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He maintained that the late Deputy Governor “consistently demonstrated competence, vision, and an unyielding passion for the progress of his people. His life was defined by service, sacrifice, and a resolute commitment to the common good.”
‎Ogbuku urged the governor, the Ewhrudjakpo family, and the people of the state to remain strong and be comforted, as the late deputy governor led a selfless life worthy of emulation.

The Renewed Hope Initiative, in partnership with the Rivers State Government, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with ₦200,000 each under the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS).

The empowerment programme formed part of activities marking the third edition of RHIESS, a social investment policy of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The event, held at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt, was themed “Finding Joy in Old Age.”

Speaking at the event, Senator Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, described the scheme—initiated in 2023—as a gesture of gratitude to senior citizens for their invaluable contributions to national development.

She explained that the programme is designed to support 250 vulnerable elderly persons aged 65 and above in each of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), bringing the total number of beneficiaries nationwide to 9,500.

The First Lady urged beneficiaries to remain active and healthy, encouraging them to engage in activities that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being in old age.

In her remarks, Lady Fubara announced that the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, doubled the state’s beneficiaries from 250 to 500. She reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to strengthening social welfare policies and improving the quality of life of elderly citizens in the state.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr. Vetty Agala, disclosed that the state government, through the Health4AllRivers Initiative aligned with the Renewed Hope Initiative, has introduced free medical care for senior citizens across Rivers State.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday engaged in a heated public dispute over the planned resumption of nationwide enforcement of the tinted-glass permit policy from January 2, 2026.

While the NBA accused the police high command of executive recklessness and disregard for the rule of law, the police insisted that no court had ever restrained the Force from enforcing the policy and that the earlier suspension was purely administrative.

The disagreement followed a statement issued on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, announcing the reactivation of the suspended enforcement. The policy had been put on hold in October after the NBA, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the legality of the enforcement.

Reacting, NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the police action amounted to a grave affront to the judiciary and the rule of law. He alleged that proceeds from the tinted-glass permit were being paid into a private bank account rather than the Treasury Single Account, raising concerns of transparency and possible corruption.

Osigwe argued that the policy would worsen Nigeria’s multiple taxation burden, undermine the country’s tax reforms scheduled to take effect in January 2026, and unlawfully nullify already issued permits without any legal basis for renewal.

He further disclosed that court processes had been duly served on the Inspector-General of Police, who briefed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to represent the Force. He also cited an order issued on October 3, 2025, by the Federal High Court, Warri Division, directing parties to maintain the status quo in a related suit, which he said effectively restrained enforcement pending the determination of an interlocutory application.

However, the police swiftly rejected the NBA’s claims. Addressing journalists at the IRT headquarters in Abuja, CSP Hundeyin maintained that no court order barred the Force from enforcing the tinted-glass permit policy.

According to him, the court order referenced by the NBA directed parties to maintain the status quo at a time when enforcement was already ongoing, not suspended. He explained that the suspension announced by the police in October was not based on any judicial directive but on the Force’s decision to exercise restraint after consultations with the NBA.

Hundeyin added that the absence of enforcement had worsened criminal activities nationwide, stressing that the police would continue enforcement until a clear court pronouncement directed otherwise.

The renewed enforcement plan has now set the stage for a legal and institutional showdown between the NBA and the police as January 2026 approaches.